GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT PLAYER-SELECTABLE WAGER ALTERNATIVES WHEN A CREDIT BALANCE IS LESS THAN A DESIGNATED WAGER AMOUNT AND GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO A LOWEST ELIGIBLE CREDIT BALANCE

摘要

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a plurality of different player-selectable wager alternatives if a credit balance of a player is less than a designated wager amount (such as a cost to cover a play of a wagering game or a maximum wager amount for the play of the wagering game) and greater than or equal to a lowest eligible credit balance (such as 1 credit). Generally, selecting one of the different wager alternatives when the player's remaining credit balance is less than the designated wager amount and greater than or equal to the lowest eligible wager amount enables the player to utilize the player's remaining credit balance (or any suitable portion thereof) in a manner that is different than, separate from, and in addition to wagering on one or more plays of the wagering game.

主权项

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display at least one play of a wagering game, each play of the wagering game being playable upon a wager by a player, an amount of the wager being at least a minimum wager amount and at most a maximum wager amount; (b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a credit balance of the player; (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the player's credit balance is less than a designated wager amount and greater than or equal to a lowest eligible credit balance, the designated wager amount being less than or equal to the maximum wager amount; and (d) if the player's credit balance is less than the designated wager amount and greater than or equal to the lowest eligible credit balance:
(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a plurality of different player-selectable wager alternatives, wherein each of the different player-selectable wager alternatives is:
(A) different from any wagers that can be made on any plays of the wagering game,(B) separate from any wagers that can be made on any plays of the wagering game, and(C) in addition to any wagers that can be made on any plays of the wagering game;(ii) enabling the player to select one of the different player-selectable wager alternatives; and(iii) if the player selects one of the different player-selectable wager alternatives, providing the selected wager alternative.